Hopes Victoria's Assisted-Dying Laws Will Lead The Way For The Rest Of Australia

If could set the way

2017-11-22T23:22:57Z

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There’s hopes Victoria’s soon to be passed, voluntary assisted-dying scheme will lead the way for other states.

The Labor government-proposed legislation won narrow support in the state's upper house on Wednesday after 28 hours of continuous debate and the second of two overnight sittings.

Now Victoria’s Health minister,Jill Hennessysays she believes this could help set the way for other states.

“The mainstream community support this change,” she told Triple M.

“I hope that those in other states and territories can take confidence from the support that the this legislative change has given.”

The bill, which is considered one of the most conservative in the world, wasn't without its opponents and Labor only attracted the support it needed by conceding a number of amendments, including halving the initial life-expectancy of 12 months.

The legislation returns to the lower house next week where the amendments need ratification in what is considered a formality, allowing the scheme to be operational by June 2019.

People applying to use the scheme must be determined by multiple doctors to be suffering intolerable pain and be of sound mind.

Except in cases where patients are too incapacitated, the scheme stipulates lethal medication is self-administered.

Advocates for voluntary assisted-dying welcomed the passage of the legislation through the state's upper house despite the amendments.